The average for 2022 based on 145 countries was 1.98 percent. The highest value was in Ukraine: 33.55 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 0.07 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in United States was reported at 3.3618 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

As a share of gross domestic product (GDP), Ukraine spent more on its military than any other country in 2023, reaching 37 percent of the country's GDP. The high figure is due to the country being invaded by Russia in February 2022. Algeria and Saudi Arabia followed behind.Leading military spending countriesIn gross terms, the countries with the highest military spending are the United States, China, and Russia. However, these are countries with large populations and GDPs, and smaller countries usually cannot compete alone, regardless of how much they invest. For this reason, they form alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO countries aim to pool two percent of their GDP towards their own militaries and to aid each other in case of war. Regional differencesThe past decade has seen an increase in global military spending. This has not been distributed evenly. That period saw large positive changes in military spending from several Asian countries, including a large increase from China. While this does not reflect the number of active conflicts, it reflects growing tensions in global affairs.

In 2023, military expenditures accounted for 1.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Norway. That was marginally higher than the previous year. In 2023, military expenditure in Norway reached nearly 91.6 billion Norwegian kroner.

United States US: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 3.149 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.222 % for 2016. United States US: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 4.864 % from Sep 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.063 % in 1967 and a record low of 2.908 % in 1999. United States US: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Defense and Official Development Assistance. Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country). Excluded are civil defense and current expenditures for previous military activities, such as for veterans' benefits, demobilization, conversion, and destruction of weapons. This definition cannot be applied for all countries, however, since that would require much more detailed information than is available about what is included in military budgets and off-budget military expenditure items. (For example, military budgets might or might not cover civil defense, reserves and auxiliary forces, police and paramilitary forces, dual-purpose forces such as military and civilian police, military grants in kind, pensions for military personnel, and social security contributions paid by one part of government to another.); ; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.; Weighted average; Data for some countries are based on partial or uncertain data or rough estimates.

Israel's military expenditure as a share of GDP reached 8.8 percent in 2024, marking a significant increase from previous years. The surge in defense spending reflects the country's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in Gaza in October 2023, and expanded to hostilities in Lebanon, Yemen and Iran by 2025. The financial impact of the war was also apparent in the county's national debt figures, which rapidly increased by 20 percent between the third quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024. Escalating defense budget amid conflict Israel's military allocation for 2025 has seen a significant increase, nearly doubling compared to 2022. Still, actual defense spending during the year is expected to exceed the approved 109.8 billion Israeli shekels, approximately 31.6 billion U.S. dollars, reflecting the nation's intensified emphasis on military preparedness amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. The bulk of this budget is earmarked for procurement and purchases, totaling around 55 billion Israeli shekels, equivalent to 15.7 billion U.S. dollars. Record-breaking arms exports As Israel ramped up its military spending, the country's defense industries have also reached new heights. In 2024, the value of arms exported from Israel reach 14.8 billion U.S. dollars, marking the third consecutive annual record. Air defense systems were the most popular product category that year, accounting for nearly half of all defense exports. The industry’s robust performance highlights the growing global demand for arms, and Israeli military hardware in particular.

Graph and download economic data for Shares of gross domestic product: Government consumption expenditures and gross investment: Federal: National defense (A824RE1Q156NBEA) from Q1 1947 to Q1 2025 about Shares of GDP, defense, investment, gross, federal, consumption expenditures, consumption, government, GDP, and USA.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in United Kingdom was reported at 2.2649 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Sweden's military expenditure as a share of its gross domestic product (GDP) was around one percent from 2011 to 2019. However, it has increased since, reaching 1.5 percent in 2023. The country's total military expenditure amounted to 78 billion Swedish kronor in 2022.

The average for 2022 based on 9 countries was 1.84 percent. The highest value was in Burma (Myanmar): 3.05 percent and the lowest value was in Indonesia: 0.7 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Israel military spending/defense budget for 2023 was 27.50 billion US dollars, a 17.48% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Israel military spending/defense budget for 2022 was <strong>23.41 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>3.84% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Israel military spending/defense budget for 2021 was <strong>24.34 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>11.57% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Israel military spending/defense budget for 2020 was <strong>21.82 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>7.26% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country).

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Spain was reported at 1.509 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Germany DE: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 1.520 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.377 % for 2022. Germany DE: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 1.929 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.899 % in 1963 and a record low of 1.066 % in 2005. Germany DE: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Defense and Official Development Assistance. Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country). Excluded are civil defense and current expenditures for previous military activities, such as for veterans' benefits, demobilization, conversion, and destruction of weapons. This definition cannot be applied for all countries, however, since that would require much more detailed information than is available about what is included in military budgets and off-budget military expenditure items. (For example, military budgets might or might not cover civil defense, reserves and auxiliary forces, police and paramilitary forces, dual-purpose forces such as military and civilian police, military grants in kind, pensions for military personnel, and social security contributions paid by one part of government to another.);Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.;Weighted average;Data for some countries are based on partial or uncertain data or rough estimates.

Denmark DK: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 1.174 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.172 % for 2016. Denmark DK: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 1.965 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.042 % in 1963 and a record low of 1.116 % in 2015. Denmark DK: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Denmark – Table DK.World Bank.WDI: Defense and Official Development Assistance. Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country). Excluded are civil defense and current expenditures for previous military activities, such as for veterans' benefits, demobilization, conversion, and destruction of weapons. This definition cannot be applied for all countries, however, since that would require much more detailed information than is available about what is included in military budgets and off-budget military expenditure items. (For example, military budgets might or might not cover civil defense, reserves and auxiliary forces, police and paramilitary forces, dual-purpose forces such as military and civilian police, military grants in kind, pensions for military personnel, and social security contributions paid by one part of government to another.); ; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.; Weighted average; Data for some countries are based on partial or uncertain data or rough estimates.

In 2023, the ratio of military expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States remained nearly unchanged at around 3.36 percent. Military expenditure figures refer to the amount of money spent on a country's armed forces, including peacekeeping and defense operations, among others. When comparing international figures, there may be some inconsistencies depending on what respective countries consider as military spending.Find more key insights for the ratio of military expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP) in countries like Mexico and Canada.

The average for 2022 based on 46 countries was 1.63 percent. The highest value was in Togo: 5.44 percent and the lowest value was in Mauritius: 0.17 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

U.S. military spending/defense budget for 2022 was 876.94 billion US dollars, a 8.77% increase from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>U.S. military spending/defense budget for 2021 was <strong>806.23 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>3.58% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>U.S. military spending/defense budget for 2020 was <strong>778.40 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>6% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>U.S. military spending/defense budget for 2019 was <strong>734.34 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>7.6% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country).

Canada CA: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 1.293 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.196 % for 2023. Canada CA: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 1.738 % from Mar 1961 (Median) to 2024, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.185 % in 1961 and a record low of 0.990 % in 2015. Canada CA: Military Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Defense and Official Development Assistance. Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country). Excluded are civil defense and current expenditures for previous military activities, such as for veterans' benefits, demobilization, conversion, and destruction of weapons. This definition cannot be applied for all countries, however, since that would require much more detailed information than is available about what is included in military budgets and off-budget military expenditure items. (For example, military budgets might or might not cover civil defense, reserves and auxiliary forces, police and paramilitary forces, dual-purpose forces such as military and civilian police, military grants in kind, pensions for military personnel, and social security contributions paid by one part of government to another.);Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.;Weighted average;Data for some countries are based on partial or uncertain data or rough estimates.

Historical chart and dataset showing Germany military spending/defense budget by year from 1960 to 2023.

Latvia: Military spending, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2022 is 2.05 percent, a decline from 2.07 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 1.98 percent, based on data from 145 countries. Historically, the average for Latvia from 1992 to 2022 is 1.27 percent. The minimum value, 0.58 percent, was reached in 1997 while the maximum of 2.15 percent was recorded in 2020.